The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-01-13
Of the government but In some form 10
called upon to act In relation to the rights,
dues and liabilities Of such companies;

VI tu6 ROYeInm6nt Dut IN some form II
called upon to act In relation to the rights
dues and liabllities Of such companies
and, therefore, where questions between
railroad companies and the people arise Il
cannot be matter OF surprise
that feeling Of dlstrust pervadea
the public mind when the pub
llc servant, whether legislative,
judicial or executive, holds q the
laws Of this country In one hand and a
railroad pass In the other. trust I may
be INDUCED In the reference Of the refusal
Of the members Of our Supreme Court OF
Appeals to be the recipients OF these 80.
called compliments, while setting valua.
BILE example that fairly presents their
aapHe OF the improperly OF the practice.
l moat earnestly recommend the enact.
ment Of law to prohibit the delivery OF
such passes 10 any and every officer with.
In this State, and that the penalties be
sufficient to put an end to the abuse.
SELECTION AND ELECTION OF CANDIDATES
t.,ls FOR PUBLIC oRrlcE.
It Is the grandest fact in the organiza.
ton Of the society that this Is a govern.
ment "of the people, by the people and
for the people," a government OF liberty,
regulated by law;' Of citizens and not Of
subjects; Of equality ot manhood, and
equality Of rights that commands no al.
leyianCe to any human being, but alone
10 the laws Of the land. Tho gift Of pa.
triottsm, freedom, hope and the crowning
glory OF governmental science, both reason
and experience concur in the demonstra.
ton that the maintenanceand perpetuatiou
Of free institutions depend PRIMARILY
upon the purity Of elections ia all their
stages. 1t might be set down as an axiom
that self.government cannot survive the
corruption OF the ballot. Bribery at elec-
tions by our laws Is punishable crime;
yet 1t Is no violation Of the law to use the
very means to secure nominations for
public Office that would constitute bribery
at an election. Political party organiza.
tions though not In law are In fact
a part OF our governmental sye-
tenn; they determine in the
main by their nominations upon whom
political trusts shall be conferred, and
therefore 1t becomes as essential to pre-
vent the use OF undue means OF fraud and
corruption in securing nomination as in
an election for public Office. The use OF
money to secure individual support and
advocacy, and the delivery Of railroad
passes to delegates to political conventions
favoring the nomination to public office Of
such candidate as railroad officials may
desire nominated are the common meth
DDS now practiced. f.
i. WONDER II he MEANS Me-"
The use Of railroad passes for such pur-
pose in this State, has become so open
and notorions as to be thrust upon the
OF every observing msn. Moth.
ing but the aroused indignation and de-
termination OF the people can successfully
counteract these means. The absence Of
laws to condemn and punish such con.
duct is but proclamation to the people
and warning to every citizen who
aspires to public position that SUBJ
serveiency to the demands Of wealth and
corporations is the first and indis.
pensible requisite to political success. The
manifest purpose OF such methods Is to
control by corruption, crush intellectual
and moral worth; deter public utterance
for the public good, deprive the State ~i
its best talent for public service, stihs
public sentiment and thwart the public
will. The blood OF our foreiathers will
have been shed in vain, and the flag Of
our country, furled in dishonor, will
cease to be the proud emblem OF human
liberty unless morality OF patriotism shall
ever prove superior 10 the arts and de-
vices Of political chicanery. I recon-
mend that these dangerous and abomin-
able abuses be declared felonious.crimes."
t,-.- '-r c. D. II.